The US Congress has frozen the digital dollar: a ban on CBDC until 2030
The U.S. House of Representatives has approved the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, which introduces a direct ban on the issuance of a digital dollar (CBDC) by the Federal Reserve System. The bill has already passed the Senate and has been sent to President Donald Trump for signature.
According to the text of the bill, the Federal Reserve and any related entities will be prohibited from creating, issuing, or promoting digital assets that are "substantially similar" to a centralized central bank digital currency until December 31, 2030. This means that even prototypes or experimental CBDC projects will be completely banned.
Notably, this move goes against the global trend: many central banks, including those in China, the European Central Bank, and the Bank of England, are actively developing their own digital currencies. However, U.S. lawmakers are betting on preserving the traditional financial system and private stablecoins.
Political Context and Consequences
The ban on CBDCs until 2030 is not just a technical decision but a political signal. The Republican Party has consistently opposed centralized digital currencies, fearing increased government control over citizens' finances. At the same time, the Trump administration is actively promoting cryptocurrency deregulation, favoring decentralized assets and stablecoins from private issuers.
For the market, this decision means maintaining the status quo: the dollar will remain exclusively a fiat currency, and competition in the digital payments market will develop through USDT, USDC, and other stablecoins. However, the long-term risks for the U.S. are obvious: falling behind in the CBDC race could weaken the dollar's position in international settlements, especially against the backdrop of the active implementation of the digital yuan.
My opinion: This law is a temporary pause, not a final decision. Technology does not stand still, and by 2030, the market may demand a review. For now, the U.S. is choosing the path of "better to wait than to make a mistake," which is quite reasonable given the scale of potential consequences for the entire financial system.